D.^r S.^r/

I beg you & the Ladies will accept many Thanks from M.^rs

Cowper & myself for the very kind Present you was so obliging

to send us, & which we receiv’d this Day. We are much oblig’d

for your Enquiries after our Health, which is very well, but

M.^rs Cowper is in a good deal of affliction for the Loss of her

Nephew S.^r Cha.^s Cope, who died on Christmas Day; the Title

devolves to her [deleted] Brother. Gen.^l Caleraft was with

me yesterday, He told me no official account was arriv’d

of Barbadoes being taken but tis fear’d the Report is too true

I sho’d be very happy cou’d I send you any good News but at

present I really cannot, tho’ in my own Opinion I think we

must have a Peace ere long, for the French are certainly

in a far worse Situation at home than we are. M.^rs

Cowper begs to joyn with me in Compliments of the Season

To you M.^rs Cooke & Miss Herbert, whose Leg I hope is better,

& I remain

D.^r S.^r y.^r oblig’d & most obed.^t Serv^t

Jn^o Cowper

N^o 14 Coney Court

Gray’s Inn. 27. Dec.^r 1781

M.^rs Cowper will be very happy to execute any Comissions for M.^rs

Cooke or Miss Herbert, whenever they may want anything from London

[new page]

M.^r Cooke

Whittleboro

Towcester

Northamptonshire

[change hand] From M.^r Cowper 27 Dec 1781

Dear Sir/

I beg you & the Ladies will accept many Thanks from M.^rs

Cowper & myself for the very kind Present you was so obliging

to send us, & which we received this Day. We are much obliged

for your Enquiries after our Health, which is very well, but

M.^rs Cowper is in a good deal of affliction for the Loss of her

Nephew Sir Charles Cope, who died on Christmas Day; the Title

devolves to her [deleted] Brother. General Caleraft was with

me yesterday, He told me no official account was arrived

of Barbados being taken but tis feared the Report is too true

I should be very happy could I send you any good News but at

present I really cannot, tho’ in my own Opinion I think we

must have a Peace ere long, for the French are certainly

in a far worse Situation at home than we are. M.^rs

Cowper begs to join with me in Compliments of the Season

To you M.^rs Cooke & Miss Herbert, whose Leg I hope is better,

& I remain

Dear Sir your obliged & most obedient Servant

Jn^o Cowper

N^o 14 Coney Court

Gray’s Inn. 27. Dec.^r 1781

M.^rs Cowper will be very happy to execute any Commissions for M.^rs

Cooke or Miss Herbert, whenever they may want anything from London

[new page]

M.^r Cooke

Whittleboro

Towcester

Northamptonshire

[change hand] From M.^r Cowper 27 Dec 1781